Seahawks on the bubble
Published 10:55 pm Thursday, August 28, 2008
A look at the Seattle Seahawks’ current roster, and what it might look like after this weekend’s final cuts:
Quarterback
Have: Four
Will keep: Three
Locks: Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, Charlie Frye
Bubble: None
Outside looking in: Dalton Bell
Breakdown: The pecking order is virtually set, with Wallace serving as Hasselbeck’s top backup. The top three quarterbacks have all been hobbled this preseason, but none of the injuries are considered to be serious.
Running back
Have: Seven
Will keep: Five or six.
Locks: HB Julius Jones, HB Maurice Morris, FB Leonard Weaver
Bubble: FB Owen Schmitt, HB Justin Forsett, HB T.J. Duckett
Outside looking in: FB David Kirtman
Breakdown: The big question is whether Seattle will carry six backs. Both Forsett and Duckett could make the final cut, but that might cost the Seahawks a body at wide receiver or on defense. Forsett (returns) and Duckett (short yardage) offer specialty skills that might make it hard to let them go.
Wide Receiver
Have: 10
Will keep: Six or seven.
Locks: Bobby Engram (injured), Nate Burleson, Courtney Taylor
Bubble: Deion Branch (eligible for physically-unable-to-play list), Jordan Kent, Ben Obomanu, Logan Payne
Outside looking in: Michael Bumpus, Bryan Gilmore, Trent Shelton
Breakdown: This might be the most interesting position of all, because of injuries that should keep Engram and Branch out of the opener. Branch could go on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) list, but that appears unlikely because he would have to miss six games. Because of the injuries, the team might keep seven wideouts.
Tight end
Have: Four
Will keep: Three
Locks: John Carlson, Will Heller, Jeb Putzier
Bubble: Joe Newton
Outside looking in: None
Breakdown: The Seahawks like Newton, but he’s likely to land on the practice squad for the second year in a row. The more intriguing question might be whom will start. Carlson, a second-round pick, is the most likely candidate.
Offensive line
Have: 14
Will keep: Eight or nine
Locks: T Walter Jones, G Mike Wahle, C Chris Spencer, G Rob Sims, T Sean Locklear, T Ray Willis, G/T Floyd Womack
Bubble: C Steve Vallos, G Mansfield Wrotto
Roster exemption: T Samuel Gutekunst (overseas exemption)
Outside looking in: C Ben Claxton, G Pat Murray, G Nick Jones, T Kyle Williams
Breakdown: The group seems pretty set, depending on whether the team keeps eight or nine linemen. Vallos will make the initial cut to 53, but there is a remote chance the team will try to find a veteran center on the waiver wire.
Defensive line
Have: 14
Will keep: Eight or nine
Locks: DE Patrick Kerney, DT Rocky Bernard, DT Brandon Mebane, DE Lawrence Jackson, DE Darryl Tapp, DT Craig Terrill
Bubble: DT Howard Green, DT Larry Tripplett, DT Red Bryant, DE Jason Babin, DE Baraka Atkins
Outside looking in: DT Kevin Brown, DE Chris Cooper, DT Nu’u Tafisi
Breakdown: The addition of Jackson gives Seattle some options, since he can play inside and outside. Most likely the team will keep four ends and four tackles. The Babin-Atkins decision and the three-way battle for the No. 4 defensive tackle are both interesting dilemmas.
Linebacker
Have: Seven
Will keep: Six or seven
Locks: Julian Peterson, Lofa Tatupu, Leroy Hill, D.D. Lewis, Lance Laury
Bubble: David Hawthorne, Dallas Sartz
Outside looking in: None
Breakdown: The decision to put Will Herring on the PUP list has made this position a pretty settled group. The only question is whether the team will try to skimp to six ‘backers instead of the usual seven. And if so, will Hawthorne or Sartz be gone?
Defensive back
Have: 11
Will keep: Seven or eight
Locks: CB Kelly Jennings, CB Marcus Trufant, S Deon Grant, S Brian Russell, CB/S Jordan Babineaux, CB Josh Wilson
Bubble: CB Kevin Hobbs, S C.J. Wallace, S Jamar Adams
Outside looking in: S Kelin Johnson, CB Marquis Floyd
Breakdown: Because Babineaux is so versatile, the Seahawks could go with just seven defensive backs. A more likely scenario is that Seattle keeps eight, with Wallace and Adams battling for the final roster spot.
Specialist
Have: Five
Will keep: Three
Locks: LS Jeff Robinson
Bubble: P Ryan Plackemeier, P Reggie Hodges, K Olindo Mare, K Brandon Coutu
Outside looking in: None
Breakdown: Plackemeier looks like a good bet to come back, while the kicking competition is too close to call. Mare may have a slight edge because of his experience and Coutu’s sore groin.
